Psychology is a fascinating subject to many people, but often those who have not studied it
have inaccurate ideas about what it entails. It should be remembered that it is a science and in
order to be successful in this subject at AS level you need to have a fairly good understanding of
scientific method (i.e. how to plan experiments, analyse data and evaluate experimental
procedures).
For work covered,
Click here
Psychology is a very popular A Level that has recently been introduced at Colfe’s with great success. The course is designed for students who have no previous experience of the subject but who have developed the necessary skills during their GCSE studies. These include the ability to communicate ideas effectively, to evaluate data from different sources and to construct well-supported arguments on a variety of complex topics.
The AS level syllabus provides a broad introduction to the subject, with consideration given to all the major areas that are involved in this discipline. The topics covered include Social Psychology, Child Development and Cognitive Psychology. In these topics students consider research into and explanations for social influence (for example conformity and obedience), the development of attachments in infants and how memory works. Students also study issues associated with the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders as part of Abnormal Psychology, the physiological and psychological effects of stress in Physiological Psychology and are given a crucial overview of the research methods used by Psychologists in their work. It is the aim of the AS course to develop students’ interests and skills in these diverse areas.
The A2 course offers challenging and exciting opportunities for students to design and carry out their own small scale psychological investigations, allowing them to put into practice the skills they have developed at AS level and to learn more about scientific method and research techniques. Particular topics we have selected at A2 are Biological Rhythms and Sleep, Aggression and Gender Development and Behaviour. The A2 course develops the themes and skills that students have learned in the Lower Sixth, for example by considering a particular mental disorder (eg schizophrenia, depression, anxiety) in depth and by looking at the impact of a contemporary issue on psychology. It is likely that we will look at Media Psychology in this part of the course.
The interest in Psychology at A level is a result of the fascinating subject matter, the transferable skills that it allows students to develop and the potential for them to achieve excellent grades. Its popularity at A level is mirrored by the increasing numbers of students who study Psychology at undergraduate level and beyond.